Investigation Discovery

Investigation Discovery
Launched October 7, 1996 (1996-10-07)
Owned by Discovery, Inc.
Picture format
Country United States
Headquarters Maryland U.S.
Formerly called
  • Discovery Civilization Network: The World History and Geography Channel
  • (1996–98)
  • Discovery Civilization Channel
  • (1998–2003)
  • Discovery Times
  • (2003–08)
Sister channel(s)
Website
Availability
Dish Network (US) 192 (HD/SD)
4DTV C-Band
DigitAlb 80 (HD only)
DirecTV (US) 285 (HD/SD)
Cable
Comcast
  • 889 (HD)
  • 111 (SD)
Verizon FiOS
  • 623 (HD)
  • 123 (SD)
IPTV
AT&T U-verse
  • 1260 (HD)
  • 260 (SD)
Streaming media
TVPlayer Watch live (UK only) (TVPlayer Plus subscription required)
PlayStation Vue Internet Protocol television

Investigation Discovery (often abbreviated ID) is an American television network owned by Discovery, Inc. that features documentary-style programming dealing with true crime subjects, mostly those of a violent nature (primarily homicides and attempted homicides, but also kidnappings, stalkings, sexual assaults, domestic violence, disappearances, and arsons). As of February 2015, approximately 86,062,000 American households (73.9% of households with television) receive Investigation Discovery.[1]

History

The channel launched in 1996 under the name Discovery Civilization Network: The World History and Geography Channel. It was one of four digital networks rolled out by Discovery Communications simultaneously in October 1996.[2] Plans for the channel had surfaced in November 1994, when its working name was "Time Traveler".[3]

In April 2002, New York Times Television and Discovery Communications announced a joint venture to run the Discovery Civilization Channel. By then, it was available in 14 million households. The partnership aimed to complement the historical shows, with programming about current events and contemporary history.[4] On March 25, 2003, the channel was rebranded as Discovery Times, focusing more on American culture and programming pertaining to the well-being and culture of the people of the United States, as well as other miscellaneous programming. The previous name was described as "is a little off-message" by executives.[5] In April 2006, The New York Times sold its stake in Discovery Times back to Discovery Communications, ending its ownership in the channel.[6]

Also in 2006, the network's on-air identity was re-branded by creative studio Trollbäck + Company. On January 27, 2008, Discovery Times was renamed "Investigation Discovery".[7] In addition to the television network, an Investigation Discovery website was also launched. Contributors to the website include crime writers David Lohr, Corey Mitchell, and Gary C. King. In 2016 Investigation Discovery Channel covered the murder of Rosalind Ross on the Unraveled series co-starring actor and recording artist Tavion Tate Guice aka Tavion Millioune as Willie.

In 2016, owing to a resurgence in popularity within the true crime genre, Investigation Discovery was the second-highest-rated cable network among women 25-54.[8]

Programming

Most of ID's programs are original productions, but it also airs re-titled off-network reruns, including ABC's 20/20, CBS' 48 Hours, and NBC's Dateline.

On June 7, 2015, ID aired its first ever scripted mini-series; Serial Thriller: Angel of Decay chronicled the investigation of convicted (and later executed) serial killer Ted Bundy. A second installment, Serial Thriller: The Chameleon, premiered as a two-part miniseries in December 2015, chronicling the crimes that resulted in the execution of American serial killer Stephen Morin. A third installment, Serial Thriller: The Headhunter, about serial killer Edmund Kemper (which possibly includes the story of serial killer Herbert Mullin), premiered on February 20, 2016.

International versions

References

  1. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 22, 2015). "List of how many homes each cable network is in as of February 2015". TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Digital Play in the U.S. of A." Realscreen. April 1, 1999.
  3. ↑ "Discovery plans launch of four newly created nets. (Discovery Communications Inc.)". Multichannel News. November 1994.
  4. ↑ "The New York Times Company and Discovery Communications, Inc. Announce Joint Venture in Discovery Civilization Channel" (Press release). The New York Times Company. April 5, 2002.
  5. ↑ "'Civilization' Seeks Current-Affairs Niche". Multichannel News. November 4, 2002.
  6. ↑ "Discovery Times to Sell Stake". New York Observer. April 13, 2006. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Discovery Investigates". Newsday. January 26, 2008. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2008. Tomorrow, the Discovery Times digital channel morphs into Investigation Discovery. (ID, get it?) Premiere night features "Deadly Women" (tomorrow at 8 p.m.), about female killers, and a related episode of "48 Hours: Hard Evidence" (tomorrow at 9 p.m., all on ID). Read the new channel's case file at http://blogs.discovery.com/criminal_report
  8. ↑ "The Oxygen Channel Is Becoming A True-Crime, All The Time Network". HuffPost. 2017-07-06. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
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